Service Groups

The organizations and groups in this section are a group of dedicated individuals who believe in supporting the community through active service. Of course, that doesn’t mean they don’t spend time having fun and holding events just to build fellowship and enjoy each other’s company. If you have a talent to share, or just two willing hands, these groups will keep you busy as you help to build a stronger community.

NAMI FAMILY-TO-FAMILY

Precious Blood Parish in Milford is hosting a free, 12 week educational program developed by NAMI (Nat'l Alliance on Mental Illness) for family and loved ones of adults living with mental illness. The NAMI Family to Family Educational Program is designed to help family members understand and support their loved ones living with mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression and other mental health conditions.

Group space is limited so please register by contacting John Marie (203) 676-8049. To learn more visit namict.org.

Christian Formation Committee

The Christian Formation Committee seeks to renew and revitalize the life and vigor of our Parish. Our Mission is to help create a deeper understanding and excitement for our Catholic faith as we seek to provide ways for our parishioners to grow spiritually, intellectually, and as a community. We desire to teach and inspire the faithful members in our parish but also to reach out to those who have fallen away.

Our Mission will be accomplished through the model of apologetics and the New Evangelization. We seek to provide vibrant, relevant adult education, inspirational speakers, parish missions, and life-changing retreats, among other things. Our goal is to set Precious Blood Parish on fire one parishioner at a time and to make our Catholic faith become a living faith!

John Rigely Food Pantry

The John Rigely Food Pantry at St. Mary Church continues to follow the mission of its founder Deacon John Rigely – to serve people in need. Approximately forty families a month receive a variety of groceries and fresh foods. It is through the generous support of the Saint Mary parishioners and school that pantry shelves are kept stocked to serve so many in the community. Our volunteers manage inventory, pack and distribute food weekly, and assist at the five food collections a year. If interested in volunteering, please contact us.

For further information, or to make an appointment, or if you know someone in need of this service, please contact Barbara Sommers.

John Rigely Shelter Program

The Shelter Program here at St. Mary Church helps these people in need quietly and confidentially. It is a program that is part of the John Rigely Food Pantry Program. While you, our very generous parishioners, give food to the pantry for those in need of groceries, monetary donations are also needed to build up the Shelter account.

Kid’s Closet

The St. Mary Kids’ Closet is available for families in need to provide “almost new” clothing, toys, books and baby gear for their children. Everything in the Closet is donated by local families and all monetary donations are used to buy food, diapers and formula for families in need. Anyone who wishes to “shop” the Closet free of charge can do so.

Milford residents with valid ID do not need an appointment; all others must call 203-713-6297 at least one week prior to visiting the Closet. Requests for same-day appointments cannot be granted due to heavy volume of shoppers. Some families are referred to us by Birthright, Bridges, the food pantry, United Way, Salvation Army and other sources, but many come to the Closet on their own. All are welcome — please bring a valid photo ID.

We are always looking for volunteers to organize donations, deliver supplies to families without transportation or to provide support to families in need. If you have some time and would like to help the youngest members of our community, please contact us to get involved.

Knights of Columbus

Nursing Ministry

The Nursing Ministry at St. Mary is operated under the auspices of St. Raphael’s Hospital and relies completely on volunteer nurses in our community to provide services. Each month this Ministry provides free blood pressure checks after Mass and facilitates a Parkinson’s Disease Support Group.

Ladies' Guild

Loaves and Fishes Dinners

Precious Blood Parish has a longstanding commitment to provide hot meals to the area homeless, and those just down on their luck. In the past the group was called the Beth-El Shelter Dinner Group but it’s not exclusive to residents of the Shelter, so the group has been renamed “The Loaves & Fishes Dinner” group.

The group provides a dinner once a month, usually the third Thursday of the month, from 6:30 – 7:30 pm (doors open around 5:30 pm). Occasionally, the date has to be changed because of conflict with Holy Day Masses. Notice of such changes are given in advance via the bulletin, the website and the rectory. No one is turned away. Three couples have volunteered to organize the efforts, but they are helped by many others who prepare, set-up, serve and clean-up for the dinner.

We can always use more people to help prepare meals (done in their homes) which are then brought to the Father Cronin Hall at St. Mary Church where they can help serve and eat with our group.

Pro-life (Helping hands & hurting hearts)

Days: Monthly or as NeededTime: 7 pmLocation: St. Agnes Church Conference Room

Activities:

Takes care of the Pro-Life building which is behind the church. It stores baby items for mothers who choose life.

CONTACTBarbara deFlumeri(203) 878-1617

Midnight Run

The Midnight Run for the Homeless Ministry is not a relay race or run and it doesn’t take place at midnight. It is a group of volunteers (open to all – adults and children) who have been coming together once a month for the past 6 years to prepare sandwiches, coffee, snack bags, soup, clothing and toiletries to provide to the homeless community in New Haven. Donations we are always in need of include items like pots of soup, sandwich meat, bottled water, snacks, clothing and toiletries. During the winter months we also collect blankets, sleeping bags, knapsacks, hats, gloves and we always collect socks.

We are always looking to welcome new volunteers! We meet at St. Agnes Church at 5:30pm on the last Thursday of the month to prepare sandwiches, snack bags, and sort through and organize all the donations for distribution. Some volunteers just prepare and organize donations, while others actually travel to New Haven to distribute to our friends in need. We serve in front of the Center Church in New Haven from approximately 7:30-8:30pm, and serve anywhere from 20 to 80 homeless and needy, and any leftovers are taken to Milford’s Beth El Shelter the next day. (Please note any students who would like to go to New Haven must be accompanied by their parent.)

From month to month we serve some of the same faces and always some new faces - and all are appreciative. Some of our friends truly sleep on the streets and will specifically ask for blankets or sleeping bags. Some of our friends have shelter but can use the extra meal or just a cup of coffee and a friendly face. Every time we go to serve these folks we receive “Thank you”, “God Bless You” and comments like "Great thanks!"

Other CT organizations partake in Midnight Run, but at other times. Our St. Agnes family has been so generous with their donations of food, clothing and time, and we are now happy to welcome the greater Precious Blood Parish community.

Friendly Visitors

We are beginning a ministry here at Precious Blood Parish called Friendly Visitors. Parish members, who have been screened and trained, will offer friendly visits for parishioners in Milford who cannot get out on their own. Visits may be made by a phone call or a home visit, offering company and companionship. If you know of someone who would benefit from such a ministry, and would appreciate a call or visit, please contact us.

Greeter Ministry

The Greeter Ministry at St. Mary Church was re-introduced in early September 2007 after a period of inactivity. The Greeter Ministry Committee recognizes its duty to welcome the congregation through the gift of hospitality which is shared with fellow parishioners as they come to worship at Saint Mary Church. Parishioners are warmly welcomed to our community celebration with fellowship, openness, genuine care and concern. This ministry of hospitality, by its actions and examples, reflects a sense of dedication and purpose as we prepare to worship together in joyous celebration of the mystery of our redemption. The participants of the Greeter Ministry help foster a true sense of belonging and comfort to all fellow believers as they come to the communal feast.